The surgery is meant to alleviate pain stemming from a gluteal
injury that has limited Howard to just nine games this season. The
decision to undergo surgery comes after Howard consulted with a
nerve specialist.

After missing the first seven games of the season, Howard
returned to the lineup and averaged 12.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and
0.4 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game. He has missed the last five
games, playing most recently on November 20 against the
Clippers.

It's another blow for the Wizards who have struggled this season
and are just 8-13 and currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern
Conference, underwhelming for a team that's made the playoffs in
four of the last five seasons and has not had a losing record since
2012-13.

Howard signed a 2-year, $11M contract with the Wizards in the
offseason after appearing in 81 games last season for the Charlotte
Hornets. The Wizars are his fourth team in four seasons, not
including the Brooklyn Nets who acquired Howard in the offseason
before buying him out of the remainder of his contract which
cleared the path to sign with Washington.